Ilkal Silk Saree with Traditional Temple Border and Top Pallu

A traditional Ilkal saree from Bagalkot district in north Karnataka, woven in one of India's most distinctive handloom traditions and chosen for our festive collection.

What makes an Ilkal saree different

In almost every other Indian saree, the body and the pallu are woven as one continuous length of cloth. In an Ilkal, they are woven separately and then joined by a series of interlocking loops — a technique called Tope Teni, worked with three shuttles across the loom. It exists nowhere else in Indian handloom, and it is the reason the Ilkal saree was granted Geographical Indication status in 2006.

The broad temple border is woven by a second method called Kondi, again using three shuttles, which is what gives an Ilkal its solid, unbroken band of contrast colour. The traditional border families are Gomi, Chikki, Jari and Gadidadi.

This piece

• Traditional top pallu, joined to the body in the Tope Teni technique
• Broad temple (gomi) border in a contrasting colour
• Small gold buttis scattered across the body
• Soft, fluid drape — comfortable through a long function
• Contrast blouse piece included

Good to know

Because each saree is woven on a loom, small irregularities in the weave are normal and are a mark of the process rather than a fault. Colours may vary very slightly from your screen.

Care: dry clean recommended for the first wash. Store folded in a cotton or muslin cloth, away from direct sunlight.

Delivery: dispatched from our Kolkata studio in 2–4 working days. Free shipping across India. Cash on delivery available.

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